ADNEC has told EW it is to be involved in the launch of six new shows next year, beginning in February with The Gulf International Flower and Garden Show. That show is by East Arts, a new organiser at ADNEC.
In May, World Utilities Congress is to be launched by dmg Events in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA).
Christopher Hudson, president, dmg events, said the Congress would enable the energy and utilities sector to forge new strategic partnerships that will help shape the future of the global utilities industry. “Through the exhibition, the energy industry will be enabled to showcase the latest technologies, products services and solution to support the drive to net zero.”
Also in May, Trucks, Tyres & Trailers Expo by Media Day Marketing, is set to showcase a spectrum of technologies and products ranging across the industry and aims to stimulate engagement with industry experts and create future business prospects.
Forward to November, which will see ADNEC’s Capital Events organiser launch Global Media Congress in collaboration with the Emirates News agency (WAM). The event will include a media conference and an exhibition.
The idea is for the Global Media Congress to serve as a platform for international companies interested in engaging in media markets in the Gulf region, the Middle East and North Africa.
December, meanwhile, will see two launch shows: Middle East Design and Build Week and Middle East Manufacturing and Technology Expo. These will be staged by the largest organiser in Oman, CONNECT (previously known as Oman Expo) for their first editions outside of the Sultanate.
CONNECT general manager Ashleigh Roberts says: “When CONNECT set out in exploring and validating potential gaps and opportunities in the Middle East region for new launch exhibitions, we took a number of steps. We spoke with our international agent networks and principle international brands to better understand what industries and geographical territories they were currently or looking to target.”
Roberts continued: “When assessing possible cities in the Middle East we looked at several key areas; current and forecast economic assessments, national economic strategy and objectives, mapping out key public and private stakeholders vested in the exhibition industry and aligned with the economic benefits of exhibitions, events infrastructure, and regional and international draw and interest.
“Whilst there are several major cities in the Middle East that are major global exhibition hubs, based on our assessment of current and future growth, and alignment with the exhibition profiles that we were looking at we felt that Abu Dhabi represents huge potential for the exhibition industry and a market that we wanted to invest in and establish new exhibitions.”
CONNECT said ADNEC’s commercial director. Graham Stephenson had recommended the best partners in the Abu Dhabi public sector, a move that helped progress the events.
Roberts points out that launching into new territories can represent many unknowns, but by building relationships with the right organisations, he says it not only mitigates to some degree the risk, but also unlocks additional potential for opportunity.
Khalifa Al Qubaisi, ADNEC’s chief commercial officer, adds: “We resolutely support the creation of new exhibitions and conferences, and look to welcome them to the UAE’s capital. In doing so, we create value for the whole of Abu Dhabi, increasing the direct and indirect economic contribution of the business tourism sector to the emirate’s economy, alongside transferring knowledge and advanced technology into the UAE.”
